Generic HIV medication - How much can we trust it (Epzicom)

[chgo2012]

after paying a very high premium for an individual policy ( $ 700) for several years and being treated for over 8 years with EPZICOM, Kaiser came to tell me that they will not longer offer the BRAND medication but, the GENERIC VERSION of it. 
The Brand still available but for a 4k price. 
I sent a message to Kaiser expressing my concerns but, especially to have documented the changes they are "forcing me" to make over a treatment that has been successful so far, if anything changes due the use of a generic medication (which can be less effective based on the drug percentage used)  I will hold them liable. 
Is anyone else being forced to take GENERIC medications for life threatening diseases as such? How do you feel about such change?   Until when health insurance companies will gamble with people's lives clearly only focused on their profits?

[Jim Allen]

To be honest I understand it.

True generic drugs are pharmacological exactly the same, they have the same ingredients, dosage, effects, side effects, strength as the brand drug.

I have generic drugs for a number of concerns, its a state effort here to bring down the costs, now here we also have private medical insurance, it is different from the US in the fact that the state here treats you anyway but private medical insurance refunds things like some over the counter treatments, out of pocket expenses not covered by the state, and provides more advanced treatment options, however even the insurance companies here and pharmacists are on a drive to push generic drugs.

Its understandable, same treatment and a lower cost.

Jim

[CaveyUK]

In the UK, we don't pay for treatment at point-of-service, luckily but our National Health Service is funded by taxes and there is a distinct drive at the moment to move to generics, where applicable.

I'm not surprised that US insurance companies are doing the same, with branded drugs coming at a high premium.

I understand the trepidation about switching to generics (I will go through the same I'm sure) but they really are the same thing, and in many cases are even manufactured in the same labs as the branded pills. They are certainly subjected to the same quality checks.

[bocker3]

Actually I doubt that there is an insurance company in the US that DOESN'T push folks to generics, when they are available.  Sometimes the "force", by not paying more than the cost of the generic, unless the doctor says "Brand necessary".  Though, even that isn't working as well anymore. 
Every drug that I take that has a generic, I have had to move to generic or pay the difference in cost myself.  AT this point, that does NOT include any of my HIV meds, but it will at some point......

Mike

[bmancanfly]

As long as the drug is the chemical equivalent what's the difference?  Generics are subjected to the same FDA standards as name brand drugs.  But once the patent has expired you (or your insurance co.) are no longer forced to pay the outrageously high name brand drug prices. 

A lower price for the same thing, sounds like a win.

I've been on one particular HIV drug for a decade, part of that time as a name brand and part of that time as a generic.  I can't tell the difference and have always been UD.

[LiveWithIt]

I always trust generics, it is the same medication.  If ti doesn't work the same for you it's a placebo effect you created in your mind.

[harleymc]

So what has happened to make this change is that the patent has run out, so now there is competition.
Teva is the new manufacturer entering the market. They have a presence in many first world markets. It doesn't look like they are in the least bit dodgy. Here's their site http://www.tevapharm.com/ .